Folding table



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,567 w. J. KING I FOLDI NG TABLE Filed Feb'. 16, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 1, 1929.

W. J. KING FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 16, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented d. 1, i929.

WILL J. KING, OF I'OBTLAND, INE, ASSIGNOB TO THE E.T. BUBROWES COM- PANY, OF PORTLAND, NE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed February 16, 1922. Serial No. 587,007.

This invention relates to improvements in light, portable folding tables of the kind employed for card tables and like purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide improved leg bracing means providing for bracing the legs laterally while at the sametime permitting of the use of a relatively small size top and top supporting frame, and the compact folding of the legs within the frame substantially parallel with the sides thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means of a simple eflicientnature forreinforcing and supporting the top whereby a stronger, more rigid, light top structure isafforded;

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular con- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail vertical section, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 1s an inverted plan of a corner portion.

Fig.

' ure 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of one of the reinforcing corner strips, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of an end portion of one of the diagonal reinforcing strips.

Referring in detail to the particular construction shown in the drawings, 1 designates a square top supporting frame, and 2 a relatively light thin top of paper board or the like secured thereto in any suitable way. The legs 3 are pivoted to the top sup- 5 is a section on the line 5-5 Fig-.

with braces 6 adapted to brace the same laterally at substantially right angles to their pivotal planes,-each brace 6-being fixedly secured to one of the legs 3, extending laterally therefrom, and being pivotally connected with the top 1 at a substantial distance to one side of and substantially in line with the pivot of the leg, said last mentioned pivotal brace connection being arranged inwardly of the spaces occupied by the legs when folded. The pivotal connections of the braces 6 with the top are made through the medium of combined reinforcing and bracket members 7 bridging corner portions of the top supporting frame 1 and connecting adjoining sides thereof together, said members 7 are provided with integral struck up car portions 7- to which the braces 6 are pivotally connected by pins 6, the members 7 taking the form of metal strips having their upper faces extending flush with the upper face of the supporting frame 1, and extending flat against the under side of the top 2, the end portions of the strips 7 being seated in recesses in the upper face of the supporting frame 1 and rigidly secured thereto by screws orequivalent fastening means.

In conjunction with the braces 6, means is also provided for bracing the le s transversely of their pivots and for loc ing the same in vertical position, said means comprising rods 8 each having a sliding connection at one end with the rame and pivotally connected at itsopposite end to one of the legs. Each rod is provided at one end with a projection 8 slidably engaging a groove 9 in. the side of the frame and has at its other end a laterally offset portion 8 pivotally engaging an opening in the leg. The laterally ofi'set portion 8 also const1-Y tutes connecting means for one of the cooperating braces 6 with the leg,- the same extending through an opening in the lower end of one of the braces 6 and having retaining means 8 at its outer end, the end portion being here shown as upset for this purpose. At. one end of each of the grooves 9 is a recess 10, said recesses being adapted to receive and retain the projecting portions 8 of the rods 8 when the legs are moved to unfolded position. 11 desi nates guard plates on the frame opposite ,t e recesses 10,- said guard plates acting as stops to limit the outward movement of the projecting portions 8 of the braces 8 in disengaging the same from the'recesses 10.

The braces 8 constructed of heavy wire and bent or bowed longitudinally intermediate their ends, as shown, through their lateral resiliency and the pressure exerted thereby laterally against the legs 3, serve to take up any lost motion due to looseness in the connections in both sets of braces 6, 8, to the legs 3 and the connections of the latter to the top supporting frame, and insure an eflicient cooperation between the transverse and lateral braces in firmly bracing the legs.

Thetop 2 is provided with reinforcing bars or strips 12 suitably secured thereto and extending diagonally thereof within the supporting frame 1. The end portions of the strips 12 abut against and are received in pockets on the cornerimembers 7. Each corner member or strip 7 is provided central- 1y of its ends with an integral struck up portion 7 extending at a downward inclination (see particularly Figures 4, 5 and 6) and providing an opening or recess 7 in the strip above said struck up portion. The reinforcing bars or strips 12have reduced end ortions 12 provided with inclined faces 12", said end portions of the bars or strips 12 fitting into the recess 7 of ,the corner members or strips 7 with their inclined faces 12" engaging inclined portions 7 of the corner member or strip 7 at the upper side thereof.

The reinforcing bars or strips 12 are also provided with recesses12 near their end portions to accommodate the lateral braces 6 when folded.

' By the special double bracing means for the legs, hereinbefore described, the legs are firmly braced laterally of their pivots as well as transversely thereof, while at the same time the arrangement is such as to permit the use of a relatively small size top and the closing of the full leg length within the top supporting frame substantially parallel with the sides thereof.

The special construction and arrangement of the corner strips in conjunction with the diagonally disposed reinforcing bars or strips provide an extended supportt and hearing for the light to intermediatethe sides of the frame, ad materiall to the strength and rigidity thereof, sa1d corner members or strips also functioning to reinforce the frame at the corners, and to provide the connection for the lateral braces 6 of the frame inwardly of the osition o6- cupied by the legs when folded, t 6 resulting structure being of a simple compact nature.

While the drawings a specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of exam le, it will of course be'understood that m 'fications and variations of the particular construction shown, and the carrying out of the invention in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Subject matter shown in the present application but not claimed herein is claimed in my co-pending case Serial No. 537,008.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A table including a rectangular shaped top supporting frame, legs pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the corners thereof to fold within the same one alongside and substantial] parallel with each side of the frame, an a brace for each leg connected therewith and ivotally connected with the top supporting rame at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded and at a substantial distance from and independently of the pivot of the leg.

2; A table including a rectangular shaped top supporting frame, legs pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the corners thereof to fold within the same one alongside and substantially parallel with each side of the frame, and a brace for each le connected therewith and ivotally connected with the top supporting ame substantially in line with the pivot of the leg at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded and at 'a substantial distance from and independently of the pivot of the leg.

3. A table incllfirding a rectangularil shaped to supportlng' ame legs ivota conne ted to the frame adjaeen t the dbrners thereof to fold within the same one alongside and substantiall parallel with each side of'the frame, an I a brace for each leg connected therewith and pivotally connected with theto supporting frame at a pointinwardly o the sition of the legs when folded and at a su szantial distance from and inde endently of the pivot of the leg, in com ination with means for holding and locking the legs in extended position.

4. A table including a rectangular shaped top supporting frame, legs pivotally consubstantial distance from and independently of the pivot of the leg, in combination with brace members each connected with one of the'legs and the top and serving to brace the legs in adirection at substantially right angles to the first mentioned braces.

5. A table including a rectangular shaped top supporting frame, .legs pivotally connected to theframe adjacent the corners:

thereof to fold within the same one alongside and substantially parallel with each side of the frame, and a set of braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivotally connected with legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the top to fold thereagainzt and to each extend alongside marginal edge portions thereof when folded, a pair of braces for each leg, each of said braces being connected with the top and with the leg to brace the leg in planes at different angles, one of said braces having a lateral offset part pivotally connected with the leg, mid offset part extending through an opening in the other brace member and serving as connecting means therefor with the leg.

7. A table including a rectangular top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the top to fold thereagainst, and to each extend alongside marginal edge portions thereof when folded, a pair of braces for each leg, each of said braces being connected with the top and with the leg to brace the, leg in planes at different angles, one of said braces having a lateral offset part pivotally engaging the leg, said offset part extending through an opening in the leg and through the other brace member and serving as connecting means for the latter with the leg, said offset portion being provided with retaining means at its other end.

8. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the rame to fold within the same one alongside each side of the frame, braces for the legs, and a bracket member -for each brace extending from the supporting frame inwardly of the position occupied by the legs when folded, each brace being connected with one of the....,legs and pivotally connected to one of said brackets at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded.

9. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the frameto fold within the same alongside the sides thereof, braces for the legs, and a bracket member for each brace, each bracket member comprising a flat strip secured to the frame at the upper face thereof and having an angularly disposed part located inwardly of the'position occupied by the legs when folded, each brace being emmcmdwiflf one of theleg's' and pi-votallyconnected to the; angularly dis posed part of one of the brackets at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded. V

10. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, a reinforcing strip for the top secured thereto and extend ing across the same withinthe supporting frame, and a member connecting adjoining sides of the frame near a corner portion thereof, said member having a part underlying a portion of said reinforcing strip.

11. A table including a. top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, a reinforcing strip for the top secured thereto and extending across the same within the supporting frame, and a metal strip connecting adjoining sides of the frame near a corner portion thereof, said strip having an integral angularly disposed part intermediate its ends underlying a portion of said reinforcing strip.

12. A table including a top, a rectangular frame "for supporting the top,- legs pivoted to the frame adjacent the corners thereof to fold within the same, said frame being provided with recesses in its top face at a corner portion thereof, a metal strip extending across said corner portion of the frame and connecting adjoining sides of the frame, the end portions of said metal strip fitting into the recesses in the upper face of the frame and extending substantially flush therewith.

13. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, a reinforcing strip for the top secured thereto and extending across the same within the supporting frame, and a metal strip extending across a corner portionof the frame and secured at opposite ends to adjoining sides of the frame at the upper face thereof, said strip having an angularly disposed part underlying a portion of said reinforcing strip.

14. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, areinforcing strip for the top secured thereto and extending across the same within the supporting frame, and a metal strip extending across a corner portion of the frame and secured at opposite ends to adjoining sides of the frame at the upper face thereof, said strip having an angularly disposed struck up part underlying a portion of said reinforcing strip.

15. A table including a top, a rectangular frame forsupporting the top, a reinforcing portion terminating short'of a corner portion of the frame and provided with an inclined face, a'ndj a member connecting adjoining sides of the frame near said corner portion thereof, said member having a part provided with an inclined face engaging the 'inclmedface of saicl rein-forcing str p.) v

16. A table including a top, a rectangular ing adjoining sides of the frame near the corner portions thereof, said members havsides of the frame" near a corner portion thereof, said member having a part centrally of its ends underlying an end portion of said reinforcing strip. J

17." A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners, of the frame to fold within thesame. alongside the sides thereof, braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded, and members connecting portions disposed inwardly of the legs when folded and to which the braces are connected.

18. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, reinforcing strips secured to the top and disposed diagonally thereof within the supporting frame, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the frame to fold within the same alongside the sides thereof, braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded, and bracket members connecting adjoining sides of the 4 frame near the corner portions thereof, said bracket members having portions disposed inwardly of 'the legs when folded and to which the braces are connected, and said bracket members each having a part under lying an end portion of one of the reinforcing strips.

19. A table including a top, a rectangular frame. for supporting the to strips secured to the top and lsposed diagona 1 thereof within the supporting frame, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the frame to fold within the same alongside the sides thereof, braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded, and bracket members connecting adjoining sides of the frame near the corner portions thereof, said bracket. members having portions disposed inwardly of the legs when folded and to which the braces are connected, and said bracket members each having a part underlying an end portion of one of the reinforcmg strips, said reinforcing strips having reduced end portions to accommodate the braces when folded.

20'. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, a reinforcing strip for the top secured thereto and extendng diagonally thereof within the supportmg frame, and a metal strip bridging a corner portion of the frame and secured at opreinforcing posite ends thereto, said stri having a struck up part, and said rein orcing strip having one end portion thereof fitting between the sides of the recesses below said struck up part and abutting thereagainst.

21. A table including a rectangular shaped top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the to to fold thereagainst, and to each extend su stantially parallel with a marginal edge portion thereof when folded, a set of braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded and at a substantial distance from the pivot of the leg, in combination with a second set of braces each pivotally connected with one of the legs and slidably' connected with the top and serving to brace the legs in a direction at substantially right angles -to the first mentioned braces, each brace of said second set of braces being transversely resilient and exerting pressure laterally against the legs in the direction of the other braces.

22. A table including a rectangular shaped top supporting frame, legs pivotally con-' nected to the frame adjacent the corners to fold within the same one alongside and substantially parallel with each side of the frame, and a. brace for each leg connected therewith and pivotally connected with the top supporting frame substantially in line with the pivot of the leg at a point inwardly of the top supporting frame clear of the position of the legs when folded and at a substantial distance from and independently of thepivot ofthe leg.

23. A table including a rectangular shaped top, legs pivoted ad acent the corners of. the top to fold thereagainst and to each extend alongside and substantially parallel with a marginal edge portion thereof when folded, a set of braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the osition of the legs when folded and at a su tantial distance from the pivot of the leg, in combination with a second set of braces each connected with one of the legs and the top and servi to brace the legs in a direction at substantially right angles to the first mentioned braces, the braces of one? of said sets of braces being transversely resilient and exerting pressure laterally against the legs in the direction of the other braces.

24. A table including a rectangular shaped top, legs pivoted adjacent the corners of the top to fold thereagainst and to each extend alongside a marginal edge portion thereof when folded, a set of braces for the legs, each brace being connected with one of the legs and pivoted to the top at a point inwardly of the position of the legs when folded and at a substantial distance from the pivot of the leg, in combination with a second set of braces eachpivotally connected with one of versely resilient and exerting pressure latthe legs and slidably connected with the top erally against the legs in the directiolr of the and serving to brace the le s in a direction other braces. I

at substantially right anes to the first In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix in 5 mentioned braces, each brace of said second signature. v

set of braces being bowed longitudinally I 1 intermediatev their ends and being trans- WILLIAM J. KDTGn, 

